Hinge



Apl El, l, o. C. SCHMIDT HINGE Filed May 27, 1935 /N TGP 0 [9 0 La 2 l j -2 5 lm O/o r/ /lo 5 7 (klm 3 ff M o O 0 O O O 0 O D iv? .su

935 n C. seu-mum HINGE Filed May 27, 1935 2 Sheets'-Shee"fl 2 Patented Apr. 21, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFF-ICE HINGE Application May 27,

I Claims.

My invention relates to hin-ges, especially of the dou-ble acting self-closing kind.

It is the object of my invention to provide a novel hinge of this character, which is easily installed and which is effective in automatically closing the door when opened in either direction and in maintaining the door in centrally closed position.

My invention consists in novel means for accomplishing these objects; further, in providing a novel hinge having fastening leaves and an intermediate leaf pivoted at its respective edges to oppositeA edges of the respective fastening leaves and so arranged. that the screws for securing either or both of the fastening leaves respectively to the door and its framing may be screwed into place while the hinge is in closed relation; further, in providing a novel spring and tension rod. arrangement having operative connections with the fastening leaves and acting on the intermediate leaf in novel manner so that the door may be swung on its pivots at the respective edges of the intermedi-ate leaf for opening the door in either direction and the door be automatically returned to an intermediate closed position; and, further,. iny providing novel means for maintaining the spring and tension rod substantially perpendicular to the leaf secured to the door throughout the swinging movements of the door..

My invention. consists, further, in a substantially right angular arrangement of hinging and closing means so constructed that the same may be let into rabbets arranged substantially right angularly to each other at a corner of. the door; and, further, in providing a. covering hood to protect the operative parts ofthe automatic closing means of the hinge.

My invention is shown asapplied to an inner door opening'of a refrigerator closed except during the time of passage of a person into or out of the refrigerator, the main doors for the refrigerator opening not being shown.

In the drawings: Fig. lis aside elevation, showing my improved device applied to a refrigerator door, the wall of the refrigerator being partly broken away.

Fig. 2. is a cross-section of the same, taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, and partly broken away.

Fig. 3 is a cross-section of my improved device, taken on the line 3--3 of Fig. l, and partly broken away.

Fig. 4 is a cross-section of my improved device, taken on the line. 4 4 of Fig. 1.

or auxiliary refrigerator door to maintain the 1935, Serial No. 23,641

Fig. 5 is a central longitudinal section of the same, taken in the plane of the line 5-5 of Fig. 6, and partly broken away.

Fig. 6 is a section of the same, taken in the plane of the line 6 6 of Fig. 5, and partly broken away, and showing the parts in normal closing position in full lines, and. in opposite open positions indotted lines; and,

Fig. 'l is a perspective view of my improved hinge, the leaves being shown in spread relation, with the tensioning means and rod omitted.

The Wall of the refrigerator is exemplified at I I, in which there is an opening I2, having a door` frame I3 at its sides and top and a sill I4 at its bottom, between which there is a door I5. The frame is shown provided with metal sheeting I6. The door is also shown as sheetedv with metal', having metal sheets I'I suitably secured to its sides and metal edgings I8 in the form of chan.- nel strips received over its edges and suitably secured in place.

The hinged corners of the door are provided with rabbets 2i at the top and bottom edges of the door and. with rabbets 22 extending lengthwise of the door at the hinged edge of the door, these rabbets being at substantial right anglesv to each other at the respective hinged corners of the door, and preferably formed in the wood frame of the door prior to the sheeting thereof, the rabbets being free of said sheeting.

The hinge comprises an outer leaf 25, an inner leaf 26, and an intermediate leaf 2'I. The intermediate leaf has bearings 28, 29 at its respective edges, the inner leaf has bearings 30 in line with the bearing 28, and thel outer leaf has bearings 3| in line With the bearings 23. A hinge pin 32 extends through the bearings 28, 30 at one edge of the intermediate leaf and a hinge pin 33 extends through the bearings. 29, 3I at the other edge of the intermediate leaf.

The inner leaf is provided with holes 35, which are preferably countersunk at their outer ends, for receiving fastening screws 36 having flat heads tapered at their inner ends. 'I'hese screws are screwed into the edge of the body of the door. The intermediate leaf is provided with slots 3l at its respective edges between its bearings in line with` the holes 35 in the inner leaf, and the outer leaf is provided with holes 38 in line with the slots 31 and the holes 35, so arranged that when the hinge is in closed relation the respective holes and slots are in line with each other, in order that, when fastening the hinge leaves to the door, the leaves may be in closed relation and the screws pass through the holes 38 and the slots 31 into the holes 35 and thence into the edge of the door, it being understood that the holes 3B and the slots 31 are at least of as large diameter and preferably of greater diameter than the diameter of the heads of the screws. With this arrangement the hinge may be secured to the door while closed.

The hinge may also be secured to the frame of the door while the hinge is closed and afterA the hinge has been secured to the door. To accomplish this I provide the outer leaf with laterally outwardly extending ears 4I in which countersunk holes 42 are located for receiving screws 43 for fastening the outer leaf of the hinge to the frame, these screws preferably having flat heads tapered at their inner ends.

These ears extend outwardly beyond the side edges of the leaves of the hinge and of the door, so that a screw-driver screwing the screws 43 in place may be readily manipulated at the outside of the door when the door is in proper place in its opening. After the screws 43 have been screwed in place the door may be swung on its hinges into partly open position in each direction, and screws 44 in countersunk holes 45 in shorter outwardly lateral extending ears 46 may be screwed in place.

The inner leaf is provided with a box-like bracket 5! having side walls 52 and an end wall 30 site side of the last-named flange, for locating the link pin endwise in said bearings.

The other end of the link is provided with a fork 6I having bearings therein. A rod B2 has a bearing 63 at one of its ends received in the fork, a pin 54 being received through said bearings and held endwise therein by its head at one end and a co-tter pin 65 in an aperture in its other end, at the respective sides of the bearings.

The rod extends through the hole- 54 in the bracket. This hole is sufficiently large to permit lateral movement between the rod and the bracket. A helical spring 68 is located about the rod, there being preferably a tube 39 between said rod and the inner wall of the helical spring. This tube is loosely located between said rod and the spring and is shorter than the shortest length to which the spring is likely to be compressed in its operation. This tube is provided for the purpose of maintaining concentricity between the helical spring and the rod and preventing undue buckling of the spring.

Washers 1|, 12 are provided with annular flanges 13, 14, and are received about the rod and abut against the squared ends of the spring, the flanges being received within the inner ends of the spring for aiding in centering the spring relatively to the rod. The outer washer 12 abuts against the inner face of the end wall 53 of the bracket 5|. A portion of the rod is threaded as shown at 15, an adjusting nut 16, forming an abutment for one end of the spring, being adjustable lengthwise of the rod for adjusting the tension of the spring.

The inner end of the rod is formed as a guiding portion 11, received in a bearing 18 of a bracket 19, screwed by screws 8U to the bottom wall of the rabbet 2|.

The link 51 is provided with a lug 85 having opposed abutment faces 86, 81 arranged to abut against coacting abutment faces S8, 89 on one of the flanges 55, these abutment faces being preferably at the respective sides of the longitudinal plane perpendicular to the hinge in normal relation in which the aXis of the pivot pin 58 is located. The faces at the respective sides of this plane are preferably angular with relation to each other, the abutment faces on the outer leaf of the hinge being more obtuse than the abutment faces on the link.

When the door is swung into open relation toward one side, the abutment face 86 or 81 on that side of the link will engage the abutment face 88 or 83 on that side of the outer hinge leaf, thus positioning the outer pivot connection 64 between the tension rod 62 and the link centrally with relation to the hinge leaf secured to the door and centrally between the sides of the door. The central positions of the rod, helical spring and axis of the pivot are substantially maintained thro-ughout the swinging movements of the door in either direction, so that undue friction between the spring, the rod and their connections is avoided.

My improved device is arranged to be secured to the respective corners at the hinging edge of the door, and is arranged to be reversed at that when two hinges are set oppositely length` wise upon each other with their outer faces in line with each other, the pivotal axes of the respective hinges will also be in line.

Assurance is therefore had with my improved device that when the reversed upper and lower hinges have their inner and outer faces secured respectively to the door and to the door frame, their pivotal axes will be in line with each other,

so that the door will swing truly toward the in side or toward the outside. When the hinges are thus reversed and the door is swung in one direction, the inner leaf of one hinge and the inner and intermediate leaves of the other hinge will simultaneously swing, but the pivotal axes of the pintles being in line with each other, the door will swing truly in either direction.

When the hinges are in place, channel shaped metal hoods 90 are placed over the rabbets at the upper and lower edges of the door and secured to the side faces of the door by screws 9|, these hoods covering the mechanism in the rabbets. If it is desired to adjust the spring, it is only necessary to unscrew the hood and manipulate the nut 16, whereupon the hood may be replaced. i The channel shaped finishing strip I8 at the swinging edge of the door is preferably rounded, as shown at 92, for permitting ready swinging of the door. The door snugly closes the door opening at all edges thereof when the door is closed.

In assembling my improved device, the rabbets 2l, 22 having been formed in the corners of the swinging edge of the door, the hinges at the respective ends of the door are screwed in placeY with the hinges in closed relation for easy manipulation. The securing screws and the heads thereof pass through the clearance openings 38 in the outer leaf and the clearance slots 31 in the intermediate leaf, the heads of the screws passing into the countersunk holes 35 in the inner leaf, the inner leaf being securely fastened to the swinging edge of the door. The brackets 19 are also secured to the bottom walls of the rabbets 2l in such position as to permit extreme range of sliding movement of the rods throughout the swinging movements of the door.

The door with its hinges thereon is now placed in the door opening, and the door may be wedged in correct position in said door opening, the hinges being in closed relation, The outer leaves of the hinges are now in correct relation to the framing of the door and are secured in such relation to the door framing by screwing the screws 43 into the countersunk holes 42 in the laterally outwardly extending ears 4l of the hinges, these ears and holes extending outwardly beyond the respective side faces of the door.

'Ihe door is now securely hung in correct position and the screws 44 may be readily inserted byswinging the door on its hinges to expose the countersunk holes 45. Tension of the springs is now adjusted by manipulation of the nut 16. The

-ibly hung and will thus yield to undue strain which might otherwise damage the door, for instance, if a meat-laden truck were pushed against the door for opening the saine. The door may be manually moved by pushing or pulling on the handles 93.

The spring closing means are preferably employed at both the top and bottom of the door, so that equal automatic closing urge may act upon the whole of the door. Long and powerful springs may be employed in my improved device and be hidden from view and protected from harm and be located within the area of the door so as not to occupy additional space, while at the same time permitting close relation between all edges of the door and the wall of the door opening for preventing leakage of refrigeration past the door.

I claim:

1. In a double acting hinge, the combination of a leaf arranged to be secured to the door framing, a leaf arranged to be secured to the door, an intermediate leaf, pivot means connecting the respective edges of said intermediate leaf to said framing leaf and to said door leaf respectively, a bracket extending from said door leaf in a direction when in normal position substantially perpendicular to said framing leaf, said bracket being provided with a flange substantially parallel with said leaves, a link pivoted at one of its ends to said framing leaf and normally extending lengthwise of said bracket, a rod pivoted to the other end of said link and normally extending substantially perpendicular to said leaves, said last-named pivot being located between said framing leaf and said flange, said flange being provided with a bearing for guiding said rod, a spring about said rod, and an abutment at the inner end of said rod for one end of said spring, and said flange coacting with the other end of said spring, whereby when the closure is swung in either direction said spring is compressed for returning said closure to normal position.

2. In a double acting hinge, the combination of a leaf arranged to be secured to the door framing, a leaf arranged to be secured to the door, an intermediate leaf, pivot means connecting the respective edges of said intermediate leaf to said framing leaf and to said door leaf respectively, a bracket extending from said door leaf in a direction when in normal position substantially perpendicular to said framing leaf, said bracket being provided with a flange substantially parallel with said leaves, a link pivoted at one of its ends to said framing leaf and normally extending lengthwise of said bracket, a rod pivoted to the other end of said link and normally extending substantially perpendicular to said leaves, a spring about said rod, and an abutment at the inner end of said rod for one end of said spring, and said flange coacting with the other end of said spring, whereby when the closure is swung in either direction said spring is compressed for returning said closure to normal position, and said framing leaf and said link being provided with coacting shoulders limiting swinging movements of said link at an intermediate portion of the range of swinging movements of said door leaf and said intermediate leaf for maintaining said rod substantially perpendicular to said door leaf.

3. In a hinge, the combination of a leaf arranged to be secured to the door framing, a leaf arranged to be secured to the door, said leaves being hinged together, a bracket extending from said door leaf in a direction when in normal position substantially perpendicular to said framing leaf, said bracket being provided with a flange substantially parallel with said leaves spaced from said leaves, a link pivoted at one of its ends to said framing leaf and extending lengthwise of said bracket, a rod pivoted to the other end of said link and normally extending substantially perpendicular to said leaves, said last-named pivot being located between said framing leaf and said flange, said flange being provided with a bearing for guiding said rod, a spring about said rod, and an abutment at the inner end of said rod for one end of said spring and said flange coacting with the other end of said spring, whereby when the closure is moving from normal position said spring is compressed for returning said door to said normal position.

4. In a hinge, the combination of a leaf arranged to be secured to the door framing, a leaf arranged to be secured to the door, said leaves being hinged together, a bracket extending from said door leaf in a direction when in normal position substantially perpendicular to said framing leaf, said bracket being provided with a flange substantially parallel with said leaves spaced from said leaves, a link pivoted at one of its ends to said framing leaf and extending lengthwise of said bracket, a rod pivoted to the other end of said link and normally extending substantially perpendicular to said leaves, a spring about said rod, and an abutment at the inner end of said rod for one end of said spring and said flange coacting with the other end of said spring, whereby when the closure is moving from normal position said spring is compressed for returning said door to said normal position, and said framing leaf and said link being provided with coacting shoulders limiting swinging movement of said link at an intermediate point of the range of swinging movement of said door leaf for maintaining said rod substantially perpendicular to said door leaf.

5. In a double acting hinge, the combination of v a leaf arranged to be secured to the door framing, a leaf arranged to be secured to the door, an intermediate leaf, and pivot means connecting the respective edges of said intermediate leaf to said framing leaf and 'to said door leaf respectively, said door leaf being provided with screw holes, said framing leaf and said intermediate leaf provided with clearance openings for passing screws therethrough into said screw holes in said door leaf when said leaves are in normal closed relation, in which relation said openings are in line with each other and with said holes for securing the hinge to the edge of the door while the hinge is in closed relation.

6. A double acting hinge comprising a leaf arranged to be secured to the door and provided with screw holes, an intermediate leaf, a leaf arranged to be secured to the door framing, and pivot means connecting the respective edges of said intermediate leaf to said door leaf and to said framing leaf respectively, said framing leaf being provided with ears extending laterally be' yond said pivot means and provided with screw holes outside the outer lateral margins of said door leaf and said intermediate leaf, said framing leaf and said intermediate leaf being provided with clearance openings for passing screws therethrough into said screw holes in said door leaf when said leaves are in normal closed relation, in which relation said openings are in line with each other and with said holes and said openings being larger than said holes for passage of the heads of said screws through said openings in securing the hinge to the edge of the door while the hinge is in closed relation, in which relation said ears and said screw holes therein extend outwardly laterally beyond said door leaf and said intermediate leaf and the sides of said door for placement of the assembled door and hinge in the door framing and the screwing of screws in said screw holes in said ears to the door framing during closed relation of said hinge.

7. In a double acting hinge, the combination of a framing leaf, a door leaf and an intermediate leaf pivoted together at the respective edges of said intermediate leaf, the outer end of said door leaf being provided with a bracket extending perpendicularly therefrom and being provided with an inner flange having an opening, a link pivoted to said framing leaf and extending lengthwise of said bracket toward said flange, a rod pivoted at one of its ends to said link and extending through said opening, the other end portion of said rod being provided with an abutment, and a spring about said rod between said flange and said abutment, said link, rod and spring normally extending perpendicularly to said leaves and with said leaves forming a substantially right angular structure for reception in right angular .rabbets at the corner of a door.

OSCAR C. SCHMlDT. 

